Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1887-11-27
THANKSGIVING SERVICES.
Delivered by Rev. DR.. Schricber
on Thursday Last.

NV 1Dhs
ON Thursday Last.
At the union services at the Syna-
gogue on Thanksgiving, Rev. DR..
Schrieber delivered the following SER
mon to his own congregation, as we'll
as the members of the Unitarian
Church:
We are assembled here to-day for
the purpose OF offering thanks from
the depth of our heart to our common
Father, the giver OF all good, for the
love, mercy and blessing he has bes-
towed upon us during the pat year.
This kindness has accompanied us in
our homes, in our public activity and
in our national life. We offer our
sincerest gratitude for the many
marks OF providential care which We
daily receive, for the fertility of our
soil, for the remarkable growth OF our
city, and for the fact that God has
protected our beautiful and prosperous
city from tie ravages of an epidemic
dieease. We are particularly thank
full that liberty, peace and prosperity
are still reigning supreme in this, the
greatest, the richest and best country
oil the globe.
Oh, it is sublime and glorious day,
indeed, when aim st 60 900 600 OF
people, no matter how widely they
may differ in their political and reli-
gious opinions, unite in giving thanks
to their common Father. Such IA
spectacle is impossible in an enlight-
ened Republic only like these United
Sta es OF America, under a Govern
ment OF. the people, by the people and
for the people. Look at Europe by
way of comparison. When, for III
stance, the Germans thank God that
he had crowned their arms with vic
tory in the battle OF Sedan, the French
men cannot possibly share this feeling
of gratitude. When the Italians thank
God for their national independence,
it is out of question for Austria or Tor
the Pope to unite in the expression OF
the same sentiment. In this country,
however. each and every one can ex-
claim: This is the day God hath
made; let us rejoice and be glad in
it."
True, it is no religious holiday in
tllG bCttDltU vi tDO tCl ILL.,
But inasmucll as 1t is permeated with
the highest and noblest sentiment, APP
pealng as it does to the human heart,
to the thought and the idea of broad,
unsectaiian humanity. the sweetest
fruit on the tree OF religion, it is Il re-
iigious festival indeed. Just because
this day belongs to one sect, denoni-
nation or party in particular, it be-
longs to all the inhabitants OF this
broad land and glorious republic, and
as such at least once year it almost
realizes the sublime prophecy. "Have
we not all one father, hath not one
God created us all, why then should
we be falthless against brother p
Such a day, when duly celebrated,
gives us faint idea and foretaste OF
the Messiamic age SO de, outIy wished
by the best minds and hearts of all
epochs and climes when God will be
acknowledged one and his name one"
How then can we best demonstrate
our heartfelt gratitude toward God as
citizens Of this imposing and univer-
sally respected coun ry of the free?
The answer to this important question
is furnished by the follow ing passage
OF the Bible: ''Virtue elevates a ma
ton, While sin degrades and disgraces
it." prov. 14-34.)
What constitutes a nations virtue
This difficult problem is, it seems to
me, most happily solved by the sages
of the Talmud, " no said: The world
is founded on three pillars, namely,
truth, justice and peace"
Truth tirst-Wh le falsehood, de-
ceit and hypocrisy may for a time
keep together whole nation, the
first storm will break into pieces such
foundation, as proven by the hi
tory of the last Napoleon and other
usurpers. "Truth will stand; false
hood must perish" This sentence
of the teachers of the Talmud holds
good both for political and religious
affairs.
Law and government are the pri-
mary condition of a nations welfare.
Wit out law no government but An
archv, which is the Greek word for
no law" or lawlessness. Such Il
state Of affairs is best characterized by
the Jewish philosophers, who say
Under the reign Of Anarchy co.
pie would devour one another"
Law is the protection OF the
weak, would, however, remain dead
letter without Il strong government to
enforce it. In monaIchies the Kings
first, and not seldom, only considera-
ton, is the increase OF their power
and the strength of their thrones. 1t
is therefore only in republics where
the people have the means of shaping
their own destiny. 1t is both their
duty and priv ilege to entrust those
only with the work of legislature who
have indeed the welfare of their con-
stituency at heart. But this can be
done then only when unbiased and
uncompromising truth animates bpth
the people and their representatives,
when their railing spirit is firm prlnci-
pie and convection, and not selflchness
and time servilude.
The American people, politically
the most advanced and most mature
in thought on the face of the globe,
ought to be Il shining example to the
whole world, and i'll particular TO the
many governments i'll Eu ope, which
look with jealousy and envy upon
their Unprecedented progress that
"virtue ele> ates nation"
This glorious Republic is commits
stoned TO demonstrate the historical
fact that, after all, truth and honesty
are a better basis for government
than the so-called high diplomacy,
which in TACT is nothing less than the
great art of lying. In order, however,